Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all

I am about to start putting my 1980 Aircooled camper back together and I haven't started it for a year, is there any process I should do before firing it up, Im hoping to do this Friday/ Saturday.

Hi and welcome to club 80-90 forum

I would charge the battery at least overnight but also (in case of problems) I would have a known good spare at the ready (the one of the car should be OK, but make sure the +ve & -ve are the same way round as the van battery.

I would drain the fuel and put some fresh stuff in, modern fuel with Ethanol in it goes off quite quickly.

I would for SURE check all the fuel lines in the engine bay for perishing. New fuel hose is cheap and easy to fit, a fire in the engine bay is not !

I would fill the carb(s) up with fuel using a funnel and some clear pipe or similar.

I would take the plugs out and spin the engine over a couple of times, say 20 seconds a time, to get the oil going round.

I would check there are sparks (while the plugs are out) before actually trying to fire it up. (don't give yourself a shock off the HT leads / plugs = it HURTS and can be dangerous, use insulated pliers or a DRY towel to hold them against the engine case and try not to touch any other metal on the van whilst testing. (Actually I try to just wedge the plug (on it's lead) in a metal nook or cranny so I can look for quality of spark without touching it when the ignition is on !)

After it has run for long enough to warm up I would drain the oil and re-fill with 20/50.

I would then go for a cup of tea (and in my case a fag) IN THE VAN, (with a happy grin on my face) and plan where I am going to go camping

Check you've still got brakes.

As above.

Take the plugs out, disconnect the coil and spin the engine on the starter until the oil pressure light goes out.

A little oil sprayed into each cylinder through the plug hole before turning the engine over wouldn't do any harm either.


We normally start them from a jerrycan rather than the fuel in the tank, but I'm not sure I should describe how to do this as it's probably not a "Good Idea"...

Ah yes, I forgot about the "disconnect the coil" bit = remove any wires from one of the connectors that sit each side of the main HT lead. Reason = the coil and / or ignition amp can be damaged if the sparks "have nowhere to go" because the plugs are out and the 4 HT leads are just dangling around.

Don't forget to put the wires back on afterwards !

I do love it when an engine that has been re-built or is being fired up after a long lay up, fires into life pretty much straight away due to doing the correct checks and fuelling procedures (jerry can tank ) = very rewarding

On the other hand I always feel disappointed when if it doesn't Usually because I got the HT leads on in the wrong firing order or I forgot to put the rotor arm back on etc.

take the plugs out and crank it for a few mins to get some pressure into the oil ways, bearings, and lifters..

Though this is post now somewhat old I would like to thank everyone for there support and help, due to a unforeseen delay I have only just fired up the camper for the first time since having it back together and everything that was recommended was done and it was very satisfying to hear it roar into life.

Thanks